More reaction to the Montgomery-Crabbe push: Former Cal players circulate a letter of concern about the bigger picture

Offered without comment from me, other than to point out that this issue might not die out as quickly as Cal and Mike Montgomery would like it to…

And that yes, there are former basketball players who were bothered by Montgomery’s shove of Allen Crabbe on Sunday, by Montgomery’s remarks immediately afterwards and by the university’s decision not to suspend Montgomery for the shove…

–I’ve heard from a few former Cal players who have concerns and who have reached out to Cal’s athletic department to start a discussion about it.

Ronnie West, who played for Cal from 2000-2002 (when Ben Braun was the coach), graduated with a degree in political science in 2005 and now works as a political operative with Field Strategies, has taken the lead and has given me permission to cite some of the things that are circulating.

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“We were troubled by Coach Montgomery’s actions on Sunday, and more disappointed by the lack of disciplinary action,” West wrote in a letter to Cal AD Sandy Barbour, informing her that he’s circulating a more general letter publicly.

“With this piece, it is not our aim to lambaste the Athletic Department or the University. Instead, we hope to spark important dialogue about broader issues concerning African-American males and student-athletes on the UC campus.”

–Here are excerpts from a letter circulating among alums, written by West…

* The letter starts with a reference to “the clever Cal promotion “*You See Berkeley*” that plays on the University of California’s initials includes inspiring images of our beloved institution: tradition, diversity, academic excellence, and success.”
* West continues: “However, what occurred on Sunday night, and the image of head men’s basketball coach Mike Montgomery shoving Cal Junior Allen Crabbe during the game against USC, served as yet another painful reminder of how Cal no longer respects its commitment to the success and personal development of all student-athletes.

“We strongly support Senator Leland Yee’s stance that UC Berkeley take swift disciplinary action for Mike Montgomery’s actions. As a well-compensated employee of the University, Montgomery should be held to the same standards as all its employees. Most disheartening of all that transpired was Montgomery’s statement during the post-game interview that his shoving of Crabbe “worked.”

* More: “While the percentage of African-American male students at UC Berkeley has diminished dramatically since Cal’s voluntary elimination of affirmative-action policies and the passing of Proposition 209, their representation on the football and basketball teams (the revenue drivers of Cal Athletics) has remained consistent.

“Yet despite the growing need to compete more broadly in an ever-competitive professional work environment, sadly, the last decade has seen the graduation rate for African-American student-athletes bottom out at historical lows.”

* More: “The world is watching. What do we see? We see the graduation rates for student-athletes in UC Berkeley’s basketball and football programs fighting to eclipse last place among all Pac-12 schools, but we don’t hear or see the efforts to thoughtfully address this problem.
“What do we see? We see a player being shoved on national television by his head coach, who gloated about the shove’s efficacy after the game, but we don’t see accountability, sincere regret, or an institution that holds its well-paid coaches accountable to the same standards applied to its student-athletes.

“What do we see? We see the top public university in the world failing to demonstrate the same level of commitment to academic success for the student-athletes as those of the broader student body. We no longer see a UC Berkeley that represents the very ideals and excellence that we’ve come to support, cheer, revere, and hold out as a source of pride and inspiration.”

Yikes…it amazes me that former players would circulate any statement publicly…as former players wouldn’t you think they would want to keep this low key and not potentially hurt the future of the organization but re-lighting the flame? And to bring Race into the conversation is beyond me.

bullship

What a asinine continued attack on Cal and Monty. A complete mountain out of a mole-hill -worst kind of reporting.

Monty ‘shoves’ a player= a problem with graduating black students!!??!?!?!?

Give me a break.

Last I checked blacks have graduation rate problems at virtually all public -and private- institutions -it is not exclusive to Cal and has nothing to do with
Monty and the basketball program. It is a much deeper social problem – and obviously very hard to change as it has been a problem for over 50 years….

derezee

so the story is that “playerS” circulate a letter of concern, and then one unsubstantial walk-on who played under a previous staff is the meat of it? pfff.

Robert

Jeff Tedford tugged on Steve Levy’s facemask a few years back. I don’t remember seeing a letter from West being circulated at that time.

Tim, did you get one?

Matthew

A “political operative” has taken the lead to claim racial motivation… Where have I heard that before recently?

Welcome to present times in the USA

Charles

Looks like you need better talking points, Tim, because you’re just adding fuel to the fire. You’re far from alone in simply throwing controversial content out there for more hits, but it is disappointing nonetheless.

KoreAmBear

Inexplicably ridiculously. Monty wasn’t gloating. He was bothered and nervous about this whole thing. He then said he regretted it. He was publicly reprimanded. Allen said it was cool. His family said it was cool. The action was wrong but to now bring this up is just equally wrong and using this to grandstand for a cause (just like Mr. Yee is doing). Cal has not done well with the APR, esp. in football, but Sonny Dykes is working hard in reversing that trend. Monty has always been good at graduating his players at Stanford and now at Cal. In fact, there is no one that I can think of since Monty’s been here (except one who transferred out (DJ Seeley) and one who was kicked out (Omondi Amoke) who hasn’t gone all four years and graduated. Give it a rest, please. A grandstanding opportunity should not always be taken. *sigh*

KoreAmBear

Sorry – inexplicably ridiculous was what I mean to say in the first sentence.

J.R.

He is a former “player” only by technicality. I doubt he played even one meaningful minute. It might as well have been written by pee wee herman.

PhilB

I’m a black man and even I think it’s completely overblown. Doesn’t matter what color the kid was, Monty would have shoved him (if that’s what you want to call it). Back in the day you could spank your kids but trying that now could get you arrested. Like Allen’s Dad said it’s 2013 and not 1973…

I just find it ironic that the shove that could get Monty fired is the same shove that probably put the team in the NCAA tournament.

PhilB

…and BTW that same shove may have increased Crabbe’s NBA stock. Just sayin’…

Slick Willie

I can hardly wait for attorney John Burris to file a class action law suit.

Bud

Nothing like a political operative seizing a contrived controversy, then blowing it out of proportion in order to get attention for themselves. Funny and sad at the same time.

Tim

This former ‘player’ has no credibility. He was a wanna be/walk-on with no real insight. He is trying to push his own race-based agenda. If he were a true bear, he would address any ‘issues’ directly to the university and/or athletic department…not pass around some lame petition complete with obvious race card implications. What an embarrassment to the university and athletic department to have this kid’s name associated with it. To imply that Coach M’s actions had ANYTHING to do with race is utterly ridiculous.

JMod

I think the graduation rates of African-American student-athletes is an important issue, but I have no idea how it is connected to Montgomery’s push…

Sam

Shoddy journalism there Kawakami, you claim that “former players” were upset about this incident, yet you cite only one marginal walk-on, as if you’re trying to inflate this isolated point of view…

pietro skiano

publicity stunt….. quit news mongering kawakami.

that race is in question is a disgrace.

and if you’re going to circulate, then cite exactly who said/wrote what.

Sad Jose

I would say the connection is that the university is not protecting it’s student athletes. I guess I agree though, this isn’t a particularly clear cut case. I would say the letter brought up a very interesting point. African-American student athletes bring in a lot of money to univrsities and yet their graduation rates are down. There does seem to be something wrong with that picture.

I don’t think everytime something involves race that it is racist, but at the same time you can’t dimiss the value of discussing race. I see a lot of knee jerk reactions here. Things are complex, try to sit with that before frothing at the mouth about how supid everyone else but people who agree with you are.

The guy isn’t an “operative”- he’s concerned about social justice. What’s so abhorrent about that?

Robert

Tim, I played soccer at the University. If I type up a letter and send it to a few buddies and detail how Monty HATES athletes from Southern California and not enough of us(from So Cal) are graduating on time, can you PLEASE get an article up AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

More and more athletes from Southern California are being promised an education and we are being abused and lied to. Crabbe is just the latest.

Tim, you HAVE TO help me with my cause!!!!!!!!!

Blueblood

The problem really is that coach Monty used his hands. He should have used his foot!

calman91

In hindsight, Monty should have had AC take his Joe Barry Carrol act to the bench for the remainder of the game. Send his prospective employers a clear message: You can’t expect consistent effort from Alan. That way, Monty only gets blasted for taking his “best” (a relative term) player off the floor, rather than being a racially-motivated abuser.

Yeah, I think we’re pretty much dead as a country. Our values and motivations are so effed up, it’s not even funny.

JohnDoe

This former “walk-on” was offered a spot on the team because of his relationship to KJ. His opinion matters just as little as anyone else. In fact, this guy has been living off his relationship to KJ for life (can’t say I blame him). However, how does a shove relate to academic/racial inequities? This is a stretch – making a mountain out of a mole-hill and then playing the race card to boot. Kawakami, it’s donkey’s like you who give idiots like this a voice – that and his relation to KJ. Go Bears.

From his firm BIO.

Ronnie West has been a Project Manager for Field Strategies since 2012 and is a co-leader of Field Strategies’ West Coast offices. Recently, Ronnie helped lead numerous recent Field Strategies campaigns including a successful independent expenditure to elect Ian Calderon in California’s 57th Assembly District and the FS-directed Maryland Turnout Project, a 2010 IE in support of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley. Ronnie brings a battle-tested toughness with experience in municipal elections in both Southern and Northern California. Ronnie was also a key advisor to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson in his first run for office in 2008.

Ronnie was born in Sacramento, CA and attended the University of California, Berkeley where he received his B.A. in Political Science.

Mark M

We live in such an absurdly PC world today. It’s aggravating that this story is the lead every day this week. Coach made a mistake, apologized and we should move on since Crabbe and his family obviously aren’t making any stink about it. His track record is impeccable, even legendary by Bay Area basketball standards. If it were a trend, this would be different. It’s not, end of story.

Richard

Okay, so where’s the comments from the former players?

West’s Nob

Anyone who cites Leland Yee as having a credible opinion is a knucklehead.

KASHMAN24

Everybody has a bad day at work. This was Kawakami’s, I guess. Dumb, dumb worthless article. I will never get the one and a half minutes it took to read it. I mean, why give this guy (West) the time of day. The guy obvviously hates the world. And why does he just mention African Americans, what about other minorities.

Bud

Why does everyone act as if the school is 100% responsible for the graduation rates of African American players. At what point are the players responsible for taking care of business in the classroom?

CalAlum

It is a disgrace that Cal ranks last in the PAC12 when it comes to graduation rates for its football and basketball players. There is no secret that the majority of these athletes are African American. These are just the facts. Any conversation about race clearly makes people uncomfortable, but I commend Mr. West for raising this often uncomfortable issue. Monty’s initial reaction to the shove was far from apologetic making his later remorse appear insincere and contrived. He knows better, and this was not his best moment. That the incident reminded some alumni, especially a former player, of the dismisal state of African American athletes on campus is understandable. Nobody seems to want to address the fact that Cal is failing its student athletes. Perhaps now they will.

BiggerPicture

1) Is it okay for a professor to shove a student? What other times have you seen this happen in the NCAA? Let’s not act like there is nothing wrong that occurred here because it was not right. 2) With all the attention this shove is getting, just maybe it is being used to spark the discussion about the African American graduation rates at Cal? Not totally fair to Montgomery because he has inherited this problem and as many have indicated he is graduating his players. I do not think the letter indicates that is Montgomery’s fault. But points out that the University failed to discipline Montgomery for his wrongdoing and the University also needs to address this graduation problem. Not fair to attack Tim or Ronnie for bringing up this discussion

Al Boogie

I am so dedicated about dealing with racial issues. We do have a race problem in this country. As a professional African American man who graduated from Berkeley, earned two master degrees, served my country, and currently working on a PhD, I still have to deal with micro aggressions by the status quo, but this is bs at best. As a Cal fan, I often get so fed up with the lackadaisical inconsistent efforts that our athletes seemed to be putting out there on the floor (hell they lost to Harvard, really). Not saying it was cool, but damn, sometimes our emotions get the best of us especially when we are passionate about something. To make this a race issue or any other issue is so far fetched. Just let it be what it was, a push to get things going. Check out how the teammates handled this, they were all on page to get this done and win the game. PC gets on my last nerve. I want to fight the fight for social justice, but not like this. I’m offended because it just makes us look like wimps instead of victims of true racism at a larger scale. Now if we want to have a real discussion about the modern day share cropping of NCAA sports we can talk, but not this.

Cal ALum

If you truly support Cal you should be concerned about its record in regards to its student athlete success. If you are a blowhard that just enjoys sports and you lack the ability to engage this issue thoughtfully, keep quiet.

Cal ALum

Kashman, clearly you did not read the piece. Without football and basketball, Cal athletics would not exist. Those sports are the breadwinners and those sports are disproportionally made up of black students. Think before you try to contribute.

GoBears!

The irony in all of this is that a young man has the guts to go public and inquire into where the thoughtful discourse is in regards to this subject, is criticized by anonymous people who clearly have not thought critically about this issue

CalAlum

Al Boogie, if everyone waited for an opportune time to engage in these difficult conversations, the discussion will never take place. We’ve got generations of African American student athletes at Cal graduating at significantly lower rates than their peers, and now, than their peers throughout the conference. When is it a convenient time to talk about that? Let me know and I’ll join the discussion. Until then, I appreciate Mr. West for taking the initiative.

West’s Nob

@GoBears!, the irony in this is that the push had absolutely nothing to do with the race of the player who was pushed and, yet, somehow, this aspiring politico is trying to spin it into an issue of race.

While we’re at it, why dont we digress into spinning Ronnie West’s basketball career into one of ‘privilege’ and/or nepotism. If Ronnie West was not related to KJ would he have been on the Cal team? Probably not. In fact, his relation to KJ most likely took the spot of some scrub (white) walk-on who probably deserved it more.

The bottom line is, this is not a race-based issue – West is race-baiting.

CalAlum

@West’sNob, the irony is that half the people on this thread seem to take issue with Mr. West, or the nexus between the shove and race, but fail to even acknowledge and address that there is a serious and systemic problem with Cal’s graduation rates among student athletes in the football and basketball program, most of whom are African American. It is much easier to criticize the messanger than the message. Waiting for a thoughtful contribution.

BiggerPicture

@CalAlum agreed. Why is everyone attacking Tim and Ronnie and not addressing the issue here? I think Ronnie West and these unnamed Cal Alumni should work with Cal on setting up a mentorship program for the current athletes to help provide some additional guidance/support while they are in school. I challenge people blogging on this forum to offer up some ideas

KASHMAN24

It’s a dumb article because Montgomery pushing a basketball Player and being punished for it has absolutely nothing to do with the following

More: “While the percentage of African-American male students at UC Berkeley has diminished dramatically since Cal’s voluntary elimination of affirmative-action policies and the passing of Proposition 209, their representation on the football and basketball teams (the revenue drivers of Cal Athletics) has remained consistent.

“Yet despite the growing need to compete more broadly in an ever-competitive professional work environment, sadly, the last decade has seen the graduation rate for African-American student-athletes bottom out at historical lows.”

Montgomery being punished for what he did is one thing. But to bring race into it is beyond me. Some of you guys need to get a life.
Spare me your rants on how you clearly see a connection and how you fail to see it.

SJMark

Given the headline on this blog, it’s important for the OTHER alums with concerns to GO ON THE RECORD. The implication right now is that the concern is widespread, with only one individual voicing concerns and presenting a suspect agenda.

Otherwise a lot of people, including TK, are tarnishing a career that has done FAR more good than the bad incident currently being highlighted.

CalAlum

@AlBoogie, that sounds like a very good and constructive idea.

Leland Lee is a SENATOR???

whoever voted for this joke of a ‘leader’ please never, ever do so again. Senator Lee has nothing better to waste his time on than THIS? I cannot stand politicians who waste their and everyone else’s time (obviously for the sake of political expediency) instead of focusing on real issues.

What a joke.

Matthew

So, if we all agree that there is a systemic problem with the graduation rate, which is pretty easy to see and acknowledge, can we agree that tying those together here and creating a race issue out of the “push” is a bit of a stretch? For all of you Cal alumni who are saying there is an issue, then use all of your resources to do something about it instead of waiting for West to make this reach and Tim to pick up on it, and then decide to make comments on a blog. Sure, there is an issue. Tying it into the incident with Montgomery and Crabbe is dumb.

Bman

Nice post CalAlum #28

I am an African-American man who has grown up in the East Bay a Cal fan and Monty fan…I agree with your thoughts — but I feel he is primary referring to the Jeff Tedford era which is now over.

Mostly what he is talking about regarding the student athlete graduation rates recently is about the the football team, something that Barbour already addressed. We already know that for the last decade of Tedford football, he wasn’t graduating his players — this was one of the main reasons why he was fired months ago…

For years I have heard that he wasn’t too popular with his players as well, and it definitely started to show on the field the last few years of his regime. This football season included an animated, heated altercation between Tedford and QB Zach Maynard. There was the mysterious benching of what seemed to be a star running back in Brendan Bigelow…There was the whole fake injury debacle against Oregon a few season ago, which certainly didn’t help the player/coach relationship. I think these are a lot of the issues West is mostly referring to. But Tedford is gone now…That dragon has been slayed.

Monty is 65 years old as well, we all know he is going to retire soon anyway, it’s unfair to use the only blip on his entire career to air his grievance with the school and other athletic programs mainly Jeff Tedford’s.

I feel there may be some truth to what West is saying, and even if there isn’t this shows that Cal clearly has an issue with their AA students and alum — and as a great institution that prides itself on it’s diversity and social progressiveness, it’s something that maybe they need to look more deeply into.

Nipper

Much ado about nothing. Sure the coach overracted but this is hardly WWIII. The pundits make too much of every bump in the road.

reporting in…

we don’t need you sportswriters(lol, get over yourselves) to lead some moral charge. The only people’s opinions here that matter are the parents and Crabbe. Racism and graduation rates are the furthest things from their minds but all you to use this issue to grandstand.

Also to his response that it “worked” doesn’t bother me at all anymore, my initial reaction was wtf. But perhaps Monty has a close enough relationship where it was ok to nudge his player. I’m not gonna dignify it by calling it a “shove” come on that was seriously not much. I’m sure coaches manhandle their college players even more during practices. He does need to wake up, because if he drifts through games the scouts will take notice and his stock will plummet. Monty is trying to help the guy, I’m sure there’s been many other incidents of frustration that has built up to this. Crabbe reacted to the same way to Monty as though he was a father figure. Initially be pissed, then realize he was wrong. And then he responded.

The parents and Crabbe want to move on, I suggest you do the same TK. This is not a good look for you at all.

Truth hurts

This is not the first time Monty has shoved a player

Ben Brung

Most of this country is incapable of participating thoughtfully in any discussion about race. If the issue doesn’t involve a “whites only” sign, some just angrily pull out the code words, “race card,” “pc,” and “race-baiting ” – all of which are race discussion killers rather than reasoned points. Meanwhile, our public schools are more segregated than BEFORE Brown v. Board of Ed..

Sorry it makes so many of you queasy but racism is everywhere despite the lack of posted signs. This is a complex subject that deserves intelligent discussion.

There is an intelligent argument to be had about Montgomery’s level of involvement – if any – in perpetuating an institution-wide problem. Why is it so hard to entertain the thought that a black man being shoved by a white man whose large salary is disproportionately facilitated by black student athletes might raise painful social & historical issues in the eyes of some people whose background is different from yours?

It’s possible – or even probable – that Montgomery would have done the same if Crabbe were white but that doesn’t mean a tin-eared response by him and his supporters doesn’t have the potential to be, at least, racially insensitive beyond Crabbe and his personal reaction.

Can’t we exchange level-headed points about this instead of hauling out the coded discussion killers so we don’t have to deal with a difficult subject?

DT

This society has become so soft……..geez, a small shove and a little in your face. Too bad!! The world isn’t always a nice, wimpy little place. Good luck trying to make it in the real world. I think Crabbe responded pretty well. He took a few moments, got his head back into the game, and then played a terrific game. Frankly, I think Crabbe showed a lot of character in coming back in the game and responding instead of sulking and becoming another “victim”. He didn’t badmouth the coach, he didn’t bitch and moan, he responded and got the job done. I’m happy for him. If a young man can’t take a small shove, I fear his ability to make it in the cold, hard world.

reporting in…

Ben,

The discussion killer happened when the parents and Crabbe came out and said they were cool with it. They don’t need you, TK, or Monte to pursue what they consider a non-issue. They want to move on.

You’re third paragraph is just way too out there man. Crabbe is leading the Pac-12 in scoring yet he merits very little draft buzz. Monty, a white man, is trying to inspire Crabbe, a black student athelete, to play to his potential. Yes, he has his own motives as well. But Monty is trying to help him, because sleepwalking games like this will ruin his draft chances. If he didn’t “wake up” during this game scouts woulda picked him apart. THis is his only reality that he needs to deal with and his parents agree, go pick another situation to illuminate your concerns.

Ben Brung

@ reporting in . . .

When you do it in public, it doesn’t get to be between coach & athlete. Being in the public eye is why Montgomery gets the big bucks.